FOLLOW HOCKEY INSIDER

NHL Winter Classic: By the numbers

Here’s a look at the Winter Classic “by the numbers,” as provided by the NHL media relations department:

2 – The Buffalo Sabres and New York Rangers will be making their second appearance in the NHL Winter Classic. Buffalo hosted the first one on Jan. 1, 2008, losing to the Pittsburgh Penguins in a 2-1 shootout in front of 71,217 fans in Ralph Wilson Stadium. New York defeated the hometown Philadelphia Flyers at Citizens Bank Park at the 2012 Winter Classic on Jan. 2, 2012, by a score of 3-2.

10 – The 2018 NHL Winter Classic will mark the 10-year anniversary of the first NHL Winter Classic and continues the tradition the league established in 2008 of hosting a regular-season outdoor game at the onset of the new year. Since 2008, the NHL Winter Classic has been played in Buffalo (2008), Chicago (2009), Boston (2010), Pittsburgh (2011), Philadelphia (2012), Ann Arbor, Mich., (2014), Washington, D.C. (2015), Foxborough, Mass. (2016) and St. Louis (2017).

17 – Forecast temperature for the 1 p.m. puck drop.

20 – Number of girls from “Hockey is for Everyone” programs in Harlem, New Rochelle and Westchester to participate in shinny hockey on the outdoor auxiliary pond at Citi Field during the Winter Classic.

24 – The 2018 Winter Classic will mark the 24th regular-season outdoor game contested. Of the previous 23, 14 have been hosted within football stadiums, eight inside baseball stadiums and one inside a soccer stadium.

28 – Average low temperature for New York on Jan. 1, according to Accuweather.com.

30 – Number worn by Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist, who has starred in all three of the Rangers’ NHL regular-season outdoor games (3-0 with a .933 save percentage and 2.00 goals-against average.)

177 – The intrastate rivals have faced off in 177 regular-season games since the 1970-71 season, with the Sabres holding a 196-172 edge in points over the Rangers. Buffalo is 81-62-34. The Rangers are 71-76-30. In addition, the Sabres and Rangers have met twice in the Stanley Cup playoffs, with Buffalo winning both series.

Sabres intent on enjoying their time on Winter Classic stage

243 – Number of ice pans under the rink at Citi Field, each measuring 30-by-340 inches.

300 – Ton capacity of refrigeration trailer that will keep the ice cool at Citi Field.

350 – Gallons of paint used to make the ice at Citi Field white.

372 – Approximate number of miles that separate Buffalo and New York.

2008 – The year that every member of New York City-based Every Voice Choirs was born. “The Star-Spangled Banner” will be performed by this choir to celebrate the first Winter Classic and mark the 10th anniversary of the inaugural game.

17,952 – Approximate square footage of plywood used to build the outdoor rink at Citi Field. At the conclusion of the event it will collected by Recycle Track Systems Inc. and donated to Materials for the Arts, a Long Island City-based program of the Department of Cultural Affairs that supports thousands of nonprofit organizations and public schools throughout New York City.

20,000 – Gallons of water needed to create a 2-inch ice surface at Citi Field.

54,397 – Total miles traveled by the NHL Centennial Fan Arena, a touring tribute to a century of memorable moments and extraordinary players. The touring experience began Jan. 1, 2017, reaching all 31 NHL markets throughout the year. The final stop will be at Citi Field for the Winter Classic.

1,242,276 – Total attendance for the NHL’s 23 regular-season outdoor games, an average of 54,012 per game.

10,000,000 – Since the band’s inception in 1986, the Goo Goo Dolls have sold more than 10 million albums. The Grammy-nominated band formed in Buffalo by longtime Sabres fans will perform during the first intermission of the Winter Classic.